FROM THE ROAMERS - WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK OUR RIVERS

Can't see this message? View in browser   The Right to Roam Christmas Film: Wild Service on the River Roding Dear Roamers, The Right to Roam Christmas film is launched! Recap of 2025 Right to Roam awarded TGO Campaign of the Year First Kendal group meeting A huge thanks to all of you who have followed and supported the campaign through 2025. It has been, as the cliché goes, ‘a year of highs and lows’, with a major victory at the Supreme Court, yet more shuffling of government ministers (annoying!), and further attempts by major landowners to chip away at the limited access we already have. With your help we’ve been fighting back and pushing forward. We end the year with a firm commitment from the government to introduce a Green Paper, which will explore expanding statutory rights of access (the first step on the road to new legislation), a bigger and more vibrant local group network than ever, and lots of exciting stuff already lined up for 2026. It’s going to be a big year. More on that in January. But for now: a treat – our first Christmas film! NEW FILM: WILD SERVICE ON THE RIVER RODING Many of you will know that last year the campaign published a book called WILD SERVICE: Why Nature Needs You (available at all good independent bookshops etc), highlighting stories showing how access can lead to guardianship of the natural world. One of those stories featured a community project on the Roding, a neglected river in east London which, in 2017, was squatted by the environmental barrister (and Right to Roam’s sometime legal adviser!) Paul Powlesland, as part of a plan to live among the reeds and defend the river’s rights. We felt this story captured everything about the spirit of guerrilla guardianship that we believe Wild Service represents. So, we teamed up with Paul and the now established River Roding Trust for a weekend of community connection and care. Filmmaker Connor Newson (lavandafilms.co.uk) came along for the journey and kindly put together this beautiful film: Wild Service on the River Roding. Watch on our YouTube channel HERE. CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR This week we were delighted to hear the readers of The Great Outdoors Magazine had voted us as their Campaign of the Year! We don’t do it for the awards but still, it’s nice to be recognised. It’s also a recognition of the thousands of YOU – writing to your MPs, attending trespasses and protests, signing petitions, donating to the campaign, sharing stories and helping flower a new countryside in countless hopeful ways. NEW KENDAL GROUP As mentioned, our local group network is growing from strength to strength (all power to Nadia, who is doing a heroic job holding it all together in the limited hours we can afford!) and we’re excited to say a new group in Kendal is forming. The first meeting will be held on Sunday 18th January 6pm at Fell Bar in Kendal. ------------------------------------------------ We’ll be back in touch in the new year, until then, enjoy the film and a merry Christmas from all of us at Right to Roam. Jon, on behalf of the Right to Roam team ------------------------------------------------ We’ve been campaigning for bold new access legislation for five years, and with the help of the generous support of a few hundred subscribers - each donating around £5-£10 a month - we’ve been mostly able to remain untethered to the demands of grant funding and fundraising. If you feel you could become one of our monthly supporters to keep us agile and focused, please head over to our website: www.righttoroam.org.uk/donate For the latest campaign updates, follow us on Instagram & Bluesky To get involved with campaign action, check out our website here. Want to become a Right to Roam supporter? Head here. Take Action Visit our social accounts Check out our site   This email was sent from this site. If you no longer wish to receive this email, change your email preferences here.